Southwark Council would like to use cookies to store information on your computer, to improve our website.
Some of the cookies we use are essential for parts of the site to operate and have already been set.

You may delete and block all cookies from this site, but parts of the site will not work.
To find out more about the cookies we use and how to delete them, see our privacy notice.

Integration into teaching

Energy efficiency case study

Notre Dame secondary school (Borough and Bankside) have lighting sensors, an external lighting solar dial timer, heating pipe insulation and improved heating controls. These are all supplied through a corporate carbon offsetting partnership.

Funding information

The low carbon building programme (Phase 2) may pay for 50 percent of a renewable (not CHP) project (Photovoltaic and Wind turbine projects must have capacity of more than 0.5kw). Ask your renewable supplier to assist with this.

Funding through Feed in Tariffs

Under the Feed-in-Tariff (FITs) scheme, energy suppliers make regular payments to those who generate their own electricity from renewable sources such as solar electricity (PV) panels. The scheme guarantees a minimum payment for all electricity generated by the system, as well as a separate payment for the electricity exported to grid. These payments are in addition to the fuel bill savings made by using the electricity generated on-site.

There are currently many companies who are offering to install solar panels on schools for free or with minimal funding with the condition that the company installing the panels will receive all or a proportion of the Feed in Tariff, while the host building would receive free or reduced cost energy generated from the panels.

Schools should proceed carefully when considering offers that involve long term contracts. The principles of ensuring that your school is getting 'best value' for any deal applies and an assessment of the range of deals on offer should be completed.

Schools may also consider financing panels themselves if they can, and so becoming the sole beneficiary of Feed In Tariffs.

Schools may need approval from the land/building owner to install the panels (usually Southwark Council), and planning permission may be necessary.